text: The properties of Magic sand are achieved using ordinary beach sand, which contains tiny particles of pure silica, and exposing it to vapors of trimethylsilanol (CH)SiOH, an organosilicon compound.  Upon exposure, the trimethylsilanol compound bonds to the silica particles while forming water. The exteriors of the sand grains are thus coated with hydrophobic groups.  When Magic sand is removed from water, it is completely dry and free-flowing.